NEW DELHI: The government may soon levy cess on telecom services, fuel and minerals to achieve its vision of Swachh Bharat, if the recommendations of the sub group of chief ministers on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan are accepted. While the sub-group is yet to arrive at the overall cost of the programme, it has recommended that Centre and states contribute in 75:25 proportion to achieve the targets set under the programme over the next five years besides roping in private players to work towards solid and liquid waste management in the country on a PPP mode.

The sub-group headed by Chandrababu Naidu finalised its recommendations at the fourth meeting of the sub-group on Wednesday and is expected to submit the report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi next month. Chief ministers of Haryana, Karnataka, Uttarakhan, Maharashtra and Mizoram attended the meeting at NITI Aayog.

"We have recommended that Centre has to arrive at the overall cost for the programme and depending on the funds requirement per year, we can decide on the quantum of levy to be imposed on telecom services, petrol, diesel, oil and minerals to implement the programme," Naidu said after the meeting.

According to Naidu, the subgroup has also recommended that both Centre and states should give all tax exemptions to projects dealing with conversion of waste into energy. "This could be done through the PPP route wherein private players set up the plant and corporations deliver waste at the plant," he said. "However, this would require the government to give exemption from all taxes to make it viable. Also wherever needed, government should also provide viability gap funding," he added.

The sub-group has also recommended raising the cost of individual toilets under the programme to Rs 15000 per toilet against Rs 12000 now. It is estimated that the country needs six crore toilets over the next five years across India to achieve the open-defecation free status, four crore in rural India and two crore in urban India.